Full Description
A 2-Day Luxor Tour from Hurghada gives you much more time for temples and royal tombs than a standard day trip. Instead of fitting everything into a few hours and driving back to Hurghada the same evening, you stay overnight in Luxor and experience the city after sunset and again early the next morning.
On the first day, you visit Karnak Temple, have lunch in Luxor, check into your hotel and later explore the illuminated Luxor Temple and the bazaar. On the second morning, the day begins with a hot air balloon flight around sunrise. Afterwards, you visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, take a motorboat across the Nile and enjoy another lunch.
The trip is operated privately for your own group. A German- or English-speaking Egyptologist accompanies you during the historical visits. One night in a 4-star hotel with breakfast, two lunches, standard entrance fees and the hot air balloon flight are included in the current programme.
Participants | Vehicle | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
2 people | Comfortable private car / limousine | €300 |
3–5 people | Private minibus | €275 |
6–8 people | Private minibus | €250 |
Single-room supplement: €40 per night.
Upgrade to a 5-star hotel: €40 per person.
If the hot air balloon flight is cancelled because of weather conditions, the current offer provides a refund of €90 per person.
Prices currently serve as non-binding guidance. Before booking, availability, the final tour price, tour operator and booking conditions are confirmed.
2-Day Luxor Tour from Hurghada at a Glance
This trip combines Luxor’s best-known historical sites with more time in the city and an overnight stay by the Nile.
The standard programme includes:
Private return transport
German- or English-speaking Egyptologist
Karnak Temple
Luxor Temple in the evening
Walk through Luxor bazaar
Hot air balloon flight around sunrise
Valley of the Kings with three standard tombs
Hatshepsut Temple
Colossi of Memnon
Motorboat trip across the Nile
Two lunches
One night in a 4-star hotel
Breakfast
Standard entrance tickets
The biggest difference compared with a one-day tour is not only the extra night.
You have more time for the main sights, you do not have to spend several hours driving back to Hurghada after the first day, and you can also experience Luxor after sunset.
If you want to compare the advantages of staying overnight in Luxor, you can read our detailed guide here:
Itinerary for Your Private 2-Day Luxor Tour from Hurghada
The exact order may change slightly for operational reasons.
The booked services remain part of the tour.
Day 1 – Hurghada to Luxor and the East Bank
Private Pickup from Your Hotel
The tour starts in the morning with direct pickup from your hotel or accommodation.
You travel to Luxor in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with only your own group.
There is no long collection route involving guests from many different hotels.
Your Egyptologist accompanies you and can begin introducing the history of Upper Egypt during the journey.
Travel time to Luxor depends on your holiday resort.
As a rough guide:
Safaga: around 2.5 to 3 hours
Makadi Bay and Soma Bay: around 3 hours
Sahl Hasheesh: around 3 hours
Hurghada: around 3.5 hours
El Gouna: around 3.5 hours
Actual journey time depends on your hotel, traffic, breaks and conditions on the day.
Karnak Temple
After arriving in Luxor, the historical programme begins at Karnak Temple.
The site is one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt and was expanded by different rulers over many centuries.
One of its best-known areas is the Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 columns.
You also see monumental pylons, obelisks, courtyards and the Sacred Lake.
Your Egyptologist explains the role Karnak played in the religious life of Ancient Egypt and why so many pharaohs added to it.
Because your tour is private, you can ask questions directly and spend more time on the subjects that interest you most.
Lunch in Luxor
After Karnak, lunch is planned at a selected restaurant.
The meal is included in the tour price.
Drinks are not included in the standard price and can be ordered locally.
If you are vegetarian or have other dietary requirements, mention them when making your enquiry.
Hotel Check-In
After lunch, you check into your hotel in Luxor.
One night in a 4-star hotel with breakfast is included in the standard price.
If you prefer more comfort, the current offer allows an upgrade to a 5-star hotel for €40 per person.
A single room costs an additional €40 per night.
After check-in, you have some time before the evening programme begins.
Luxor Temple in the Evening
Later, you visit Luxor Temple.
The temple stands in the city centre on the East Bank of the Nile and is especially interesting in the evening when large parts of the site are illuminated.
You see monumental columns, statues and courtyards while your Egyptologist explains the history of the temple.
Luxor Temple and Karnak were linked in ancient times by the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Because many day visitors leave Luxor in the afternoon, the evening visit has a different atmosphere from a standard one-day excursion.
Walk Through Luxor Bazaar
After the temple, a walk through the bazaar is planned.
This is not a compulsory shopping stop.
You can walk through the streets and look around the city centre.
If you want to buy something, that is your choice.
There are no required visits to papyrus, perfume or souvenir shops in the tour programme.
Afterwards, you return to the hotel.
Overnight Stay in Luxor
The overnight stay is one of the main advantages of this 2-day tour.
After a full sightseeing day, you do not have to drive several hours back to the Red Sea.
Instead, you can rest at the hotel and start the second day already in Luxor.
This is especially useful because the hot air balloon flight begins very early.
Day 2 – Hot Air Balloon, Valley of the Kings and West Bank
The second day begins before sunrise.
Hot Air Balloon Flight over Luxor (Option)
The hot air balloon flight is included in the current standard programme.
You are collected early in the morning according to the balloon operator’s arrangements and transferred to the launch area.
After a safety briefing, preparations for the flight begin.
During the balloon flight, you can see parts of Luxor’s West Bank, the Nile Valley, farmland, desert and historical areas from above.
The exact route cannot be set in advance.
A hot air balloon travels with the wind, while the pilot mainly controls the flight by using different altitudes.
Flight duration can also vary slightly.
Hot Air Balloon and Weather Conditions
A hot air balloon flight depends more heavily on weather than sightseeing on the ground.
Wind speed, visibility and other safety conditions determine whether the flight can take place.
The final decision is made by the balloon operator.
Sunrise itself also cannot be guaranteed to the exact minute because launch time and flight approval depend on the conditions that morning.
The historical programme on the West Bank then begins.
Valley of the Kings
In the Valley of the Kings, you visit three standard royal tombs included with the normal entrance ticket.
Which tombs are open on the day can change.
Your Egyptologist explains which tombs can be entered with the standard ticket.
Inside, you can see hieroglyphs, religious texts and colourful wall decoration.
Before you enter each tomb, your guide explains its historical context and what to look out for.
Additional Tombs in the Valley of the Kings
Some tombs require a separate official ticket.
These may include:
Tutankhamun
Seti I
Ramesses V/VI
These tickets are not included in the standard price.
If you want to visit a particular additional tomb, mention this in advance.
Your Egyptologist can explain on the day which tickets are available and where they can be purchased.
Hatshepsut Temple
You then continue to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.
The temple was built on several terraces against the high cliffs of the West Bank.
Its wide ramps and clear architectural form make it very different from Karnak or Luxor Temple.
During the visit, you learn more about Hatshepsut and her unusual position as a female pharaoh.
You also have time for photos and to walk through the accessible areas.
Colossi of Memnon
Another stop takes you to the Colossi of Memnon.
The two huge seated statues represent Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
They originally stood in front of his enormous mortuary temple.
This is a shorter stop than the Valley of the Kings or Hatshepsut Temple and is useful for photos.
Motorboat Trip Across the Nile
During the day, you cross the Nile by motorboat.
The short journey links the East and West Banks and also gives you a view of Luxor from the water.
The boat trip is included in the standard programme.
Second Lunch in Luxor
Lunch is also included on the second day.
Drinks are not included.
If you have dietary requirements, mention them when booking.
Return Journey to Hurghada
After the sightseeing programme, the return journey to the Red Sea begins.
You travel back to your accommodation in the private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Because you stayed overnight in Luxor on the first day, there is only one long return journey on Day 2.
Your exact arrival time depends on traffic, your hotel location and the day’s schedule.
Why Choose 2 Days in Luxor Instead of One?
A one-day Luxor tour can already cover several important attractions.
With two days, however, the pace changes.
You can visit Luxor Temple in the evening, stay overnight in the city and begin the next morning with a balloon flight.
You also do not have to fit all the major sites into one very compressed sightseeing day.
For many travellers, this more relaxed schedule is the main reason to choose the overnight option.
If you want to compare a day trip with a 2-day stay in more detail:
Private Luxor Tour or Large Group Tour?
A large group tour can cost less.
On a private tour, you travel only with the people in your own booking.
There are no long hotel pickups for many additional guests.
Your Egyptologist also focuses only on your group.
This makes it easier to ask questions and receive more personal explanations.
Short breaks can also be managed more easily.
Opening hours, traffic and the balloon schedule still create clear limits.
Private does not mean every part of the programme can be moved freely.
No Planned Shopping Stops
The tour is focused on Luxor and its historical sites.
There are no compulsory visits to papyrus shops, perfume shops or alabaster workshops.
The bazaar visit on the first evening is free time, not a sales programme.
If you want to shop, you can.
If you simply want to walk around, that is also fine.
This leaves more of the two-day trip for the sights you actually came to see.
Why Your Own Egyptologist Helps
On this trip, you visit temples, tombs and archaeological areas from different periods.
An Egyptologist helps connect these places and explain why they matter.
At Karnak, for example, the focus is more on religion and temple building.
In the Valley of the Kings, the burial traditions of the pharaohs become more important.
At Hatshepsut Temple, you learn more about one of Ancient Egypt’s best-known female rulers.
Because the guide accompanies only your own group, you can ask questions throughout the tour.
You can read more about the value of travelling with a knowledgeable Egyptologist here:
2-Day Luxor Tour with Children
The tour can also work well for families.
Compared with a one-day Luxor trip, the programme is spread over two days.
For some children, this may be easier because you do not have to make the long return drive to Hurghada after the first sightseeing day.
The hot air balloon flight has its own safety conditions.
Minimum age, minimum height or other participation rules may be set by the balloon operator.
If children are travelling with you, provide their exact ages when making your enquiry.
This allows the balloon participation rules to be checked in advance.
Our detailed family guide to Luxor has more practical advice:
2-Day Luxor Tour with Limited Mobility
The private format can be useful for some travellers with limited mobility.
You travel in your own vehicle and can manage breaks more easily.
However, the historical sites include steps, uneven surfaces and longer walking distances.
The tombs in the Valley of the Kings can also have narrow or steeper passages.
A balloon flight also requires guests to meet the operator’s safety conditions.
If you use a wheelchair or need help walking, mention this when making your enquiry.
We can then check which parts of the programme are realistically suitable.
Pickup from Hurghada and Other Red Sea Resorts
The tour can be organised from several Red Sea holiday resorts.
These include:
Hurghada
El Gouna
Sahl Hasheesh
Makadi Bay
Soma Bay
Safaga
El Quseir
Marsa Alam
The current transfer supplement from Marsa Alam is €35 per person.
From El Quseir, the supplement is €25 per person.
Your exact pickup time depends on the location of your accommodation.
Provide your hotel name and holiday resort when making your enquiry.
What to Bring for 2 Days in Luxor
For one overnight stay and two days of sightseeing, we recommend:
Comfortable shoes
Lightweight clothing
Clothes for the overnight stay
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Sun cream
Personal medication
Passport or required travel documents
Phone and camera charger
Power bank
Small bag or daypack
Some cash for drinks and optional tickets
Light jacket for the early morning
It can feel much cooler before sunrise during the balloon programme than later in the day.
Light layers are therefore useful.
Included in the Price
Private pickup from your accommodation
Private return journey
Air-conditioned vehicle
German- or English-speaking Egyptologist
Karnak Temple
Luxor Temple
Valley of the Kings with three standard tombs
Hatshepsut Temple
Colossi of Memnon
Motorboat trip across the Nile
Hot air balloon flight around sunrise
One night in a 4-star hotel
Breakfast
Two lunches
Standard entrance tickets for the listed attractions
Taxes and services included in the standard programme
Not Included in the Price
Drinks with lunch
Additional tombs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I or Ramesses V/VI
Personal expenses
Tips
Single-room supplement: €40 per night
5-star hotel upgrade: €40 per person
Marsa Alam transfer supplement: €35 per person
El Quseir transfer supplement: €25 per person
Karnak Sound and Light Show
Other services not specifically listed in the standard programme
Who Is the 2-Day Luxor Tour from Hurghada For?
This trip is especially suitable if you want to experience Luxor in more depth than on a standard day trip.
It may suit you well if you:
want to stay overnight in Luxor
want to see Karnak and Luxor Temple
want to visit the Valley of the Kings
want a hot air balloon flight around sunrise
prefer a private tour
want your own Egyptologist
would like to see Luxor Temple in the evening
do not want planned shopping stops
If one long day is enough for you and you do not need a hotel stay or balloon flight, a private Luxor day trip may fit your plans better.
Enquire About the Private 2-Day Luxor Tour from Hurghada
If you want to explore Luxor over two days with a hotel stay, Egyptologist and hot air balloon flight, you can send a non-binding enquiry for your preferred date.
Tell us your travel date, number of participants and holiday resort.
If you want a single room, the 5-star hotel upgrade or additional tombs in the Valley of the Kings, mention these as well.
For children, we need their ages so the balloon participation conditions can be checked.
After your enquiry, we confirm availability, the final tour price, accommodation and the conditions for your trip.
